Giggs keen to stake long-term claim

Ryan Giggs wants to use his time as interim Manchester United manager to prove he is good enough to take the position on a full-time basis.

Giggs did not look out of his depth when he addressed the media on Friday for the first time since being appointed.

The former Wales international is pledging to bring back the style of play that United are renowned for - a high-tempo game of rapid attacking football and clinical finishing.

The United board see Giggs as a potential manager of the club a few years down the line, but they are currently searching for a more experienced successor to David Moyes, with Louis van Gaal and Carlo Ancelotti high on their wishlist.

But plenty United fans want Giggs to take the role on now despite his lack of managerial experience.

There are many examples of younger managers who have fallen by the wayside because of a lack of experience, but Barcelona took a gamble on Pep Guardiola and he delivered 14 trophies in four seasons.

Giggs, who has been taking his UEFA Pro Licence exams, knows how he performs over the next few weeks may well have a big bearing on United's view of whether he can do the job in the future.

"I've got a chance to show what I can do and what I am capable of as a manager in a short space of time," said Giggs, whose first game in charge is against Norwich on Saturday.

Giggs appears open to the idea of talking with the board about taking charge, or at least having some sort of role within the new coach's set-up, in the summer.

"It can happen (young managers getting the job). That's not something I'm thinking about at the moment," Giggs said.

"That's another conversation to be had in three weeks, six weeks or whenever in the future."

Every word that came out of Giggs' mouth on Friday was music to the ears of the fans who had become disgruntled with life under Moyes - the man who left the club seventh in the league and out of the Champions League for next season, the first time they have missed out in almost two decades.

Although the club press officer mistakenly introduced Giggs as "David" at the start of the media conference, there was little mention of the Scot at Carrington.

The message on Friday was clear - United have moved on from Moyes. A compensation package has been agreed, the prominent members of his backroom staff are gone and journalists were forbidden from asking questions about him.

The dawning of a new era started on Tuesday morning following Moyes' sacking. It is one that looks to the future but relies upon influences of the past - namely those that came under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"My philosophy is the Manchester United philosophy," said Giggs, who won 13 Premier League titles under Ferguson.

"I want players to play with passion, speed, tempo and be brave with imagination, all the things that are expected of a Manchester United player.

"I want to see goals, tackles, players taking players on and getting the crowd up.

"I want the passion that should come with being a Manchester United player.

"I want the players to enjoy themselves and give the fans something to smile about in the remaining four games.

"It's been a frustrating season and I want to end it on a high.

"The stadium will be bouncing."

Giggs has collected a total of 35 winner's medals since signing a professional contract with the club in 1990.

And he has a message to those who say United's glory days are a thing of the past.

"This club is all about winning trophies," said Giggs, who has played a record 962 times for United.

"We've not managed to do that this season but we've had seasons like that in the past and always come back.

"That's the thing about this club. We always come back and we will."

The fact that it is Liverpool who top the league, rather than his own team, has deepened Giggs' misery this year.

"It's not been easy (watching Liverpool do so well)," Giggs said.

"Obviously, it's not over yet but we spent so many years trying to catch them and then we overtook them.

"Credit to them, they've been brilliant this season and you have got to give credit to Brendan Rodgers and the players of Liverpool."

Ferguson, who played a key part in knocking Liverpool off their perch following their success during the 1980s, was immediately consulted when Giggs took the job.

"He was the first person I picked up the phone to," Giggs said.

"Why wouldn't I? He's been everything you can as a manager - a young manager, an experienced manager, a successful manager.

"He's given me advice and told me he's always at the end of the phone so that has given me a lot of comfort. It's good to know I can turn to the manager if I ever need him."

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